Court stops Botswana’s president from making his brother vice president

As if the country belonged to his family and his family alone, Botswana President, Ian Khama, wanted to make his bother, the country’s vice-president. Elected for a second term last month, Khama wanted lawmakers elect his deputy by a show of hands instead of a constitutional secret ballot.

His plans have now failed as a Court of Appeal has upheld an earlier High Court ruling for a secret parliamentary ballot to be followed.

The president had faced severe criticism from within his own party over his bid to make his brother, Tshekedi Khama, vice president. Parliamentarians accused him of trying to create a dynasty in one of Africa's most democratic nations.

AFP reports that the government has accepted the court ruling.

"Government accepts that the matter has been resolved and wishes to assure the public that it will respect and fully implement the decision of the court," the executive said in a statement late Tuesday.